Google Business Profiles are a free and easy way to ensure your business is verified on Google and it helps in building trust with your customers.
However, for solopreneurs who work from home, there are privacy and safety concerns.
I’ve worked with a variety of clients who didn’t want to publicize their home address; who used a mailbox rental service for safety and privacy reasons which is (something I’ve done as well), or who have an on-the-go office lifestyle and use different co-working spaces.
No matter the reason, sometimes safety and privacy take precedence. Fret not. There are several workarounds you can use while still enjoying all the benefits of a Google Business Profile account.
Here are some examples of those situations and how I handled them:
- A client who had just had a baby and started her own bookkeeping business rather than return to her job at an accounting firm. Her website had already been developed and I was working with her to create an email campaign. Immediately, I alerted her that it was for her safety to have her web designer remove her home address from her website along with the map and directions function that had been automatically installed by him without thinking. She was home with a brand new baby! Once it was done, she invested in a mailbox service and made it her permanent business address.
- Another client had a mailbox service that had been added that after his profile had been established and verified. Because of the timing, the front of his house was the image on the account! I replaced it with his logo.
- In another scenario, the client had a mailbox service and the front of the mailbox store is what showed as his image. Again, I had him replace it with his logo.
- Just the other day I worked with a woman business owner who wanted to set up a Google Business Profile account but didn’t because it automatically asked her for address and she lives alone and works from home. There is a workaround. Just follow these instructions to take advantage of this very valuable service.
- Lastly, if you already have a mailbox service, be sure to label it “Mailing Address” on your website and social media accounts so no one shows up thinking it’s your office.
If you already have a Google Business Profile listing, I encourage you to have a look at it to be sure it’s up to date, and if it needs any edits, start the process sooner rather than later because in some circumstances, Google will have to mail you a postcard with a security code and this can take up to several weeks.
Can it be a bit of a hassle? Yes.
Is it worth it? Yes.
Need help? Be in touch.
PS – A while ago I wrote about the advantages of claiming your Google Business Profile account whether or not you have a website. You can read more about those advantages here